FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Clinch Mt Trails Birding Festival - Saturday

["mayhorn" <mayhorn@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Area Birders,
This Saturday, May 14, the first Clinch Mountain Trails Migratory Birding 
Festival will take place on the Clinch Mountain Loop of the Virginia Birding 
and Wildlife Trail. For this first time the festival is free to all. Two hour 
guided bird walks will be held at four sections of the Clinch Mountain Loop. 
Those wishing to, may participate in one or all four of the free guided walks. 
Following is the schedule for the four guided walks with a more detailed 
description following that.
8:00   - 10:00 a.m. Guided walk at Hungry Mother State Park
10:30 - 12:30 Guided walk at Saltville Well Fields
Lunch (at own expense) at Saltville
2:00  -  4:00 p.m. Guided walk at Laurel Bed/Tumbling Creek
4:30  -  6:30 p.m. Guided walk on Clinch Mountain/Raven Ridge

The (still under construction) Clinch Mountain Trails website can be found at
http://www.clinchmountaintrails.com/ 

The first walk will take place at Hungry Mother State Park, just off Interstate 
I-81 on State Route 16 near Marion VA. This 8:00 a.m. walk will be on the 0.9 
mile Raider's Run Trail, the first trail on the left after entering the park. 
It will be led by Ed Talbott III, a member of the Buchanan County and Russell 
County Bird Clubs.

After two hours of birding the group will then drive  to Saltville, 
accompainied by Ed Talbott, along state routes 16, 42 and 91, where Dave 
Worley, a member of the Buchanan, Bristol and Russell County Bird Clubs, will 
meet the group at 10:30 a.m. at the Food Country Parking Lot (next to the small 
lake) and conduct the second bird walk at the Saltville Well Fields. Saltville 
has a unique inland saline watershed that draws in waterfowl and shorebirds. 
After the walk birders will be given time to purchase and eat their lunch in 
Saltville. (Dave is also conducting an 8:00 a.m. walk in the same area for 
those who wish to participate.)

After lunch the group will then drive from Saltville to the Laurel Bed 
Lake/Tumbling Creek area of the Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area to an 
elevation of 3000+ feet. After entering the lower section of the area the group 
will meet with their next guide, Tom Hunter of the Russell County Bird Club for 
the 2:00 p.m guided bird drive/walk. Tom will meet the group at the lower 
ranger station in the Wildlife Management Area. At the top the birders will get 
to see some high elevation breeding species.

Following state routes, 613 and 80 from the Wildlife management area, the group 
will arrive at Hayter's Gap and Raven Ridge Bed and Breakfast and Campground at 
an elevation of 3700+ feet, where birders will experience the great hospitality 
of the owners, Charles and Alona Kennedy. There at 4:30 p.m. the birders will 
meet Roger Mayhorn, a member of the Buchanan and Russell County Bird Clubs, who 
will lead them on the last two hours of the guided walks. This trail is 
moderate to difficult as some areas are a bit steep. High elevation species 
like Canada Warblers, Black-throated Blue Warblers, Dark-eyed Juncos, 
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Ravens can be expected in this area.

Come and enjoy the birds,

Roger Mayhorn
Compton Mt
Buchanan County VA   
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